Female Condoms

As an alternative for women who can't take birth control pills, some women turn to female condoms for their desired mode of contraception. Female condoms are sheer, large balloon-like condoms (larger than a male condom). Female condoms are inserted and worn inside the vagina as effective contraceptive protection. Female condoms entirely line the vagina and prevents pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases during sexual intercourse. Female condoms are also worn to act as a barrier against saliva and bodily fluids (semen and blood) during oral sex.

Female condoms can be awkward to use at first. Women need to carefully read and follow the directions according to the female condom's manufacturer. Male and female condoms should not be worn simultaneously during sexual intercourse. Female condoms can be inserted into the vagina up to eight hours before sexual intercourse takes place. It helps to either sit, stand or lie down when inserting female condoms. By adding spermicide to female condoms, women further reduce the risk of pregnancy. Female condoms are about 75% to 95% accurate in regard to preventing pregnancy.

Some of the advantages of female condoms include: protects the vagina and vulva during sexual intercourse, can still be worn even if women are allergic or sensitive to latex, no hormonal side effects (like birth control pills can sometimes cause), and a male erection is not necessary to keep female condoms in place inside the vagina.

Some of the disadvantages of female condoms include: does not contain spermicide, can sometimes be difficult to insert, has a tendency to shift or move during sexual intercourse, prone to breaking or leaking, and more expensive than male condoms.

Female condoms are easily accessible to women. They can be bought over-the-counter at local drugstores and are also sold over the Internet. Women don't need a prescription from a doctor to purchase female condoms.